*Hangs head in shame* I know! I know okay! And i would like to offer my deepest and most sincere apologies but i know that won't mean jackshit to some of you which is totally okay. I get it. I just- do you ever have so much bad shit happen to you that you can just feel yourself shutting down? Anyone? Well that's how i've been for a while now but i have been getting my shit together and honestly i have been trying to work on this chapter for so long (like several months) but i just couldn't. So i do hope you'll forgive me and i hope you enjoy the chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own OUAT
"Emma! Emma, you can stop now." The blonde's eyes shot open and took in the woman on the glass as it began to fade away. She only caught a glimpse but it was enough to make her wonder. Have I seen that woman before?
After the world stopped moving and she was able to stand up straight, Emma looked over to the blonde who was still staring into the mirror. Her eyes now looking at her own reflection with a wide grin on her face that Emma was sure she didn't even know was there. Regina moved to Emma's side, ignoring the older blonde completely.
"Are you alright, dear?" She grasped Emma's chin, forcing green eyes to stare at her so she could be sure Emma hadn't exerted too much of her magic. Emma couldn't help but smile at her wife's worry. It was always a good feeling to know that only she got to see this side of Regina.
"I'm fine. I can handle using a little bit of magic." She assured.
"Be that as it may, I am your wife and your queen and I need to know you're okay." Regina knew Emma was excelling at using her magic recently and knew how to manage it but it didn't stop her from thinking back to all the times it has gone haywire. Emma also wasn't anywhere near Regina's level of expertise and until she was Regina would be checking her constantly.
"I know that, but you have an entire fucking kingdom to run. You don't have time to worry about me all the time." Emma had moved closer to Regina, gripping her waist lightly. Regina looked over Emma's shoulder to see if Maleficent was watching them but found that she had left. I'll definitely be talking with her later. She turned back to the blonde and smiled slightly, moving her arms to rest on Emma's shoulders and her hands toyed with the wispy hairs at the base of her neck.
"Dear, since we've been together would you please tell me a time you have not worried about me?" She questioned. Emma's answer was immediate.
"I'm always worried about you." Her brows furrowing slightly because this is something that Regina already knew.
"Exactly. So why do expect me not to worry about you when you are always worrying about me?" She watched on amused as Emma's mouth opened and closed a few times, coming up with nothing that would win in a discussion with the queen.
"I may have a kingdom to run but I would happily let all of them burn if it meant your safety. I suspect many if not all of the people at the palace know this and all of the kingdoms should be very much aware of how protective I am of you. " Emma's face broke out into a grin.
"I love when you get all protective of me." Regina rolled her eyes but the love shining in them was enough to tell that she was far from annoyed.
"You're an absolute fool."
"Yes, but I'm yours. Your own personal jester, if you will." Emma felt the hands in her hair drag her down so her forehead was against Regina's.
"And those who forget it will incur my wrath tenfold."
"I'd like to incur your wrath tenfold." Emma returned cheekily.
"Oh, I bet you would but now you must rest." Regina snapped her fingers, sending them to their bedroom. Emma frowned when the smoke cleared.
"I have no desire to sleep, my queen. Unless it's with you that is." Regina raised an eyebrow at her but said nothing. After a few moments of silence she sighed.
"Emma, I will not have you training or exerting anymore energy today. You may say you feel fine but you used a lot of magic and I do not want you collapsing due to exhaust that could have been easily avoided." She watched as Emma sulked out of her clothes and stand in front of her with a pout on her face. The two women held each other's gazes, Emma with a sad look on her face and Regina with an annoyed one.
"I don't know what it is you're trying to accomplish." Regina watched Emma's pout deepen and the blonde moved closer.
"Please?" her chin began to quiver and she ducked her head into Regina's shoulder. The queen huffed out an annoyed breath but her arms wrapped themselves around the blonde's waist, out of habit more than anything.
"Emma." The tone was obviously a warning that her wife didn't seem to take very seriously because all she got as a response was a quick kiss on her neck.
"I just wanna spend time with you, my queen."
"And you will. Tomorrow." Regina said, backing them up until Emma's back hit the side of the bed. Emma sighed and climbed into bed slowly, ignoring Regina's smug look of victory.
"But what about Sn-"
"I can deal with Snow. I have in the past and will have no trouble doing so now." Regina leaned over and gave Emma a quick kiss. "And don't even think about trying to leave this room because I will know and I will not be happy." She didn't give Emma a chance to respond before poofing herself away.
The rest of the day was uneventful. Emma slept through the day just like Regina guessed she would, a few of the White Kingdom's soldiers were found creeping around the edges of her kingdom near some of the further towns. Not wanting to deal with the pest that is Snow White, Regina quickly crushed the hearts of the men that were captured so she could get back to more pressing matters.
…
Emma woke up later that night, the moonlight shining in through their balcony windows. She blinked the sleep out of her eyes, surprised at how tired she still was, and swung her legs over the side of the bed.
"Well, it seems like someone was quite tired. How do you feel, dear?" Emma looked over at Regina, who was sat on the chaise lounge next to the burning fireplace. She hadn't looked up from the book in her hand or let go of the goblet of, most likely, wine in her other hand. Emma had to take a minute to just stare in awe at her wife. Her Queen. How did I manage to marry someone so divine? She thought, as she watched the fire flicker over Regina's form. She also took note of the silk night gown Regina wore which didn't really cover much of anything (not that she was complaining). She stood, swaying a little bit as she walked over to her, obviously very relaxed, wife. Without a word, she grabbed Regina's ankles, pulling her forward a little bit, causing the queen to jolt and glare up at Emma. Ignoring the look, Emma sat in the small space that was now available behind Regina, pulling her into her chest and tangling their legs together.
"Was that your subtle way of saying 'I told you so'?" She leaned her head on the shoulder in front of her, wondering if she knew what book Regina was reading.
"If I was going to say 'I told you so' then I would have just out right said it. It was merely an observation." Regina said back without missing a beat, turning the page only a moment later. They were both silent, Regina leaning against Emma, Emma enjoying just having Regina in her arms, her hands roaming her body lightly, innocently. Regina was just so soft, how was she supposed to keep her hands off? The crackling of the fire the only sound in the room until Emma's hunger made itself known. Regina chuckled, finally putting down her book, and reached for a tray that Emma hadn't even notice that was sitting on the side table.
"This was brought in not too long ago. I was going to wake you before it got cold." She turned slightly so she was still leaning into Emma and so that the blonde could reach the food on the tray. They sat in silence while Emma ate and when she put the tray aside she could feel the drowsiness she had felt in her body when she woke start to return so she gained the rest of her strength and hefted Regina up into her arms as she stood, carrying her bridal style. Not expecting the sudden movement Regina yelped in a very unqueenly manner, and wrapped her arms around her knight's neck. Emma set Regina down carefully onto her side before going to flop down on hers, sweating a little. Why am I so weak? From one damn spell? As if reading her mind Regina turned to face Emma, sighing.
"What you did was a very powerful spell and, like I warned you, it took a lot of energy from your body. You should be able to handle that level of magic more easily but I suppose it was a tradeoff considering you were training and learning magic at the same time. We need to work on it more." Emma blinked sleepily before nodding slightly.
"Kay, Gina. More magshic…" she trailed off, her words slurring near the end. Regina just shook her head fondly before drifting off to sleep herself.
…
Emma was up early the next morning preparing for her very intense, very long, work out. Emma was sitting at a long dining table fiddling with one of her daggers when Regina sashayed into the room. She raises a questioning eyebrow at Emma, obviously surprised at her being awake and dressed before her.
"Well isn't this a pleasant surprise? Do tell. What was so important you had to wake up early?" Emma shrugged.
"I guess I just wanted to be ready for today." She immediately began eating when a plate was set in front of her, not noticing Regina's curious gaze.
"How do you feel?" Emma looked up and her eyebrows furrowed as she thought about the question.
"I'm feeling really good actually. I guess I just needed food and sleep. And yes I know, 'you told me so'." Regina smirked and nodded but stayed quiet as she began to eat her breakfast. A comfortable silence settled between them as they finished eating. Regina grinned at Emma as she stood, the blonde rolled her eyes at the woman but couldn't hide the small pull at the corners of her mouth. Exiting the room they headed toward the training yard but didn't get very far before they were stopped by one of her guards jogging over to them, looking very nervous.
"I'm sorry to interrupt but there are people at the gate demanding to see you now."
"Well send them away. I am in no mood and I have cancel court for the day." Just as they turned to continue walking the guard spoke out again.
"They are from the White Palace… with a message." Regina closes her eyes and massages her temples for a moment.
"Fine. Tell them I will be there in a moment. Do not let them in the gates." The guard nodded and ran off to deliver her message. Regina turned to Emma who was actually looking quite pleased at the moment.
"Oh no. You're not getting out of this, wait for me in the far training yard. I don't want anyone ogling you." Emma snorted.
"As if they'd do something so incredibly idiotic. They're smarter than that." Regina just hummed in response and was about to disappeared in a cloud of smoke when she felt two arms wrap around her waist. Emma pulled her close enough so that their foreheads would be touching.
"What do you think you're doing?" Regina wondered, letting her hands slip up to Emma's neck.
"Well I realized that because I woke up early today I haven't had a chance to kiss my wife yet. And that, my queen, is unacceptable." She didn't let Regina respond before pressing their lips together but she could feel the smile on the woman's face. When they pulled back they were somehow closer to each other.
"I love you." Emma whispered, with a tender tone and warm eyes that just melted Regina.
"I love you too. Very much so." Regina whispered back before pecking her lips and poofing away.
...
Emma had been stretching for a while now, shaking out her muscles, when she heard footsteps behind her.
"Gods, what the hell took so long?" She asked, taking a sip of water from the water skin she brought with her. When no response came she turned to see what the problem was and saw Neal standing directly behind her. With no warning her lunged and grabbed her wrist, slapping on the cuff before she even knew what was happening. A black hood was put over her head and she felt her body being transported… somewhere. Why do I feel so god damn weak and tired? She asked herself as she leaned against the surface of wherever she was.
"We did it James. We got her." She heard from a familiar voice before passing out.
I have been waiting to get to this part of the story and i am so happy it's finally here! So what'd you think? I tried to get some fluff in there while also moving the plot along. Next chapter... well there's gonna be a little of this a little of that and Regina is gonna call in a few troops of her own. Who do you think? throw some guesses out there. I know but i wanna see what y'all are thinking.
PM me on here or tumblr for any questions or to annoy my ass to write the next chapter. whichever. (hipsters-watch-tv)